title: Comparing continuation rates and side effects of hormonal contraceptives in East Asian and Caucasian women after abortion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether East Asian women had more side effects and a higher discontinuation rate than Caucasian women when choosing to use hormonal contraceptives.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational cohort study of usual care using questionnaires for 2 months after being given hormonal contraceptives following an abortion in Vancouver, Canada.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first month, 73 (64.4%) of the 110 East Asian and 86 (80.4%) of the 107 Caucasian women took any of the sample provided (p=.020). In the second month, 52 (47.3%) of the East Asian and 62 (57%) of the Caucasian women used the prescription to buy and take their hormonal contraception (p=.12). Total side effects were similar, but there was more nausea in the East Asian women (23.3% vs. 8.1%) (p=.03) and more acne in the Caucasian women (8.2% vs. 20.9%) (p=.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There may be both physiological and cultural differences leading East Asian women to use less hormonal contraception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1H9. ellenwiebe@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Ellen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Wiebe
authors.forename: Konia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trouton
authors.forename: Zhe Amy
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003267:Contraception / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal